The Possibility Initiative, in an attempt to save money as well as a courtesy to its members, provided low cost housing in the form of apartments, varying in size depending on the client, in which all of the staff, save for a few, lived and slept in. The design was centered on a medium courtyard, which was a patch of grass, a few trees, and some cleverly placed bushes, with three main buildings each with twenty rooms. Because of the lack of space, for the school employed close to a hundred and fifty, the Initiative also had housing arrangements in the city, although those were comparably small in relation to the apartments, so most of the employees had simply opted to pay city rent instead of living off of company property.
Of those who lived in the apartments in the first building there were Iago and his wife, on the corner room; Mickey; Jiminy Cricket; and Gaston, who, for the taste of the ironical, taught French literature. By the time that Robin Hood reached the complex, the corner apartment was the only residence that one would consider lively.
The home of Iago was the standard of most of the apartments, with the door opening into the living room, which connected into the kitchen and then a small hallway leading into the rest of the rooms. It was spacious in design, enough room to entertain, should the need arise, Disney putting emphasis on the social aspect of living, completely disregarding personal preferences, which in this case, were modest and introverted.
Iago's wife, another scarlet macaw, Jamil, was in the process of making one of Iago's favorite dishes when she heard a knock at the door. Turning down the stove and flying over, Jamil, looking through the peephole, saw that it was Jasmine and Aladdin, each of them holding gifts. Opening the door, Jamil smiled as best she could and ushered them inside.
"Please" Jamil exclaimed, "Come in, I'm just finishing up dinner."
Jasmine handed her package to Aladdin and embraced Jamil as lightly as she could, stepping inside allowing Aladdin to enter.
"You're looking wonderful Jamil" Jasmine said as she broke away, at the same time looking around the apartment, "And this apartment is beautiful, what's your secret?"
Jamil laughed and shook her head, for it had little to do with her; the only time that she was allowed to do anything was when it involved cooking food, not because Iago was overbearing and restricting, but in that he did everything that was required, doting and meticulously going over every possible detail to ensure the closest thing to perfection.
"Ask Iago" Jamil answered, "He's the one who cleans."
Jasmine raised her eyebrows at this, as if a husband cleaning anything was a completely foreign idea. Aladdin immediately became uncomfortable, he didn't want Jasmine getting any ideas lest it require more work on his part.
"If he cleans" Jasmine continued, "Then what do you do?"
Jamil huffed and flew back over to the stove, beginning to mix in spices and the potatoes that she had sliced earlier.
"I cook" Jamil replied promptly, "Not that there's any time for it. If it's not cooking its eight hours at that damn doctor's office breaking my back for Mortimer."
Jasmine nodded and casually looked around, avoiding the issue. She had heard stories about Mortimer and his insufferable behavior, yelling and screaming at his workers who got paid the minimum wage to file papers and make appointments, not even speaking for Jamil, who was a licensed nurse.
"Mortimer can be a slave driver" Jasmine said, mostly talking to herself, "Anyway, enough about that."
Jamil smiled, agreeing, for there were enough troubles in the world without adding on to them by talking about horrible bosses and what might have been. Motioning over to the couch, where Aladdin had made himself comfortable, considering himself a guest of Iago, Jamil ushered Jasmine next to her husband and began to entertain; quickly pulling out a finger food dish that she was saving for such an occasion from the refrigerator.
"So Aladdin" Jamil began, passing out the food, "How's the Sultan business treating you?"
Aladdin shrugged, for in honesty he was not a photographer but a reporter for the local news, photography being a hobby.
"Great" Aladdin answered, lying, "Everything's fine. Agrabah's never been better, never been more prosperous."
Jasmine raised her eyebrows, for no one, at least no one she knew, ever expressed such thoughts so openly. Although she found it odd, she did not think it warranted action, for everyone told such lies in order to make themselves appear better, especially in front of people they respected. Out of respect for Aladdin's self-image and not to discredit Jamil, who bought the lie, Jasmine said nothing.
"I can't wait when all of this is over" Jamil continued ecstatically, reminiscing on Agrabah, "Before we came here we found a nice house outside the city. Next to the perfect lake and not too far from the bazaar. Hopefully it's still there when we get back."
A second knock at the door cut Jamil short. All of them collectively stared at each other and then at the door, hoping that the other would answer the door. Aladdin, to break the tension and that he was closest to the door, walked over and opened it.
Robin Hood was standing at the door, casually looking down the hallway to his right towards his own apartment.
"Robin" Aladdin said as he stepped aside, allowing amble room for Robin to pass, "What brings you here?"
Robin, remaining at the door, stuck his head in rather nervously and, upon finding that Iago was not present, retracted.
"Looking for Iago" Robin replied, "I thought that he might be teaching Elliot again today."
Jamil, at hearing Robin's voice, stopped dinner preparations and flew to the door, going so far as to embrace the new guest and peck him on the cheek.
"Mr. Hood!" Jamil said excitedly, "What a pleasant surprise! I thought we weren't expecting you till tomorrow?"
Robin, returning the gesture, shook his head as he leaned nonchalantly against the door, casually checking his wristwatch that he almost forgot he had.
"No I could have sworn it was today" Robin retorted, "Elliot's been coming here every Monday for the past month and a half for lessons and now he's not here. Odd?"
Jamil shrugged and laughed as she made her way back to the kitchen, putting the dish in the oven.
"You know how children are" Jamil replied, "Always looking to get out of work, studies, school. It's all the same to them. Life's just one big game."
Robin huffed and folded his arms, insulted at the suggestion.
"Not my son" Robin said proudly, "No, Elliot was raised better than that. He knows the value of a good education."
The fox paused for a moment, unsure if what he was thinking would be appropriate to speak aloud; for Jamil, being childless, was in no position to question his parenting techniques or the behavior of his son. The only right that Robin could see her having in that regard was the right to tell him of misbehavior and wrongdoing; he, being the father, would then give out the appropriate punishment. Robin decided, for the sake of the friendship that he had with the parrots, to keep his opinions to himself.
Jasmine, who was listening, reached over to the coffee table where the finger food tray was placed and helped herself to a cheese cube, at the same time motioning to Robin, who waved her off, for he was not particularly hungry nor was he in the mood for eating.
"Don't worry Robin" Jamil continued as turned on the facet, washing, "One missed lesson isn't going to kill him."
Robin could not help but disagree, especially if he ever got his hands on him; for months on end the only thing that Elliot talked about was playing piano. He had repeatedly told his father about dreams of being as good as Beethoven, but instead of classical music, taking on a contemporary pop music approach. Naturally, Robin gave his son the appropriate encouragement and attention, going one step further and paying Iago for the service of teaching him. It was incredibly annoying to say the least that Elliot had skipped out on the lesson, despite the fact that Iago was not present to administer it. To Robin, it was the principle that mattered.
"I'll leave you to your guests" Robin said as he walked away, "Tell your husband that I will compensate for today even though he did nothing."
Jamil shook her head in protest, "Oh no" she replied, stopping him from leaving entirely, "We couldn't accept it. Keep your money Robin. Buy Marion something special."
Robin laughed at Jamil's humility, it was a quality that he found in few people and something that he wished he possessed.
"I insist" Robin persisted, "You both have been so good to us, it would be ridiculous not to give you something for it. If you will not accept it as payment, think of it as a gift."
Jamil nodded and gave a soft smile, causing Robin to mirror it and nod in turn. Without another word, the fox waved goodbye to Jasmine and Aladdin and made his way down to his apartment. Walking through the door, Robin was greeted by no one except the darkness of the living room.